Bulk material handling system and method

ABSTRACT

A bulk material handling system and method use a horizontal boom frame supporting a conveyor mechanism for bulk material that is slidable relative to the horizontal boom frame. The conveyor mechanism is positioned such that, with bulk material received at a fixed location, or loading axis, on the horizontal boom frame, a portion of the conveyor mechanism will always be positioned to receive bulk material. The horizontal boom frame can also be made rotatable about the loading axis. By rotating the horizontal boom frame and advancing or withdrawing the conveyor mechanism, the discharge point for bulk materials relative to the loading axis can be altered radially and angularly without interrupting the flow of bulk materials through the system. A supply bridge assembly can be employed to bring the bulk materials to the loading axis of the boom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 13/571,239, filed on Aug. 9, 2012, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/521,559, filed on Aug. 9, 2011, the contents of which applicationsare herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the handling of bulk materials, andmore particularly, to the systems and methods for loading bulk materialsfrom a supply point onto ships or other transports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Given that the majority of bulk materials are usually not generatedwhere they are to be employed, it is necessary to load bulk materialsonto various transports to take them to their ultimate locations foruse. For example, coal, metal ore and the like will often be mined inrelatively remote locations and then loaded onto ships or barges fortransport to industrial centers. The handling of bulk materials in suchsituations, and particularly at the rates and volumes demanded by modernindustry, presents many challenges.

For example, when loading a ship or barge, it frequently necessary tomove the vessel during the loading process in order to desirablydistribute the bulk material at selected locations—which movements canresult in an interruption of the loading process. A separate, butrelated, problem is getting the bulk material from a common supply pointto the equipment used for loading a particular ship or ships—which ofteninvolves transport over a considerable distance.

By way of example, well known ship loading systems are described withreference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,563 to Grathoff for a Bulk MaterialLoading and Unloading Facility for Sea-Going Ships; U.S. Pat. No.5,871,324 to Horak for Shiploader System; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,156 toShehata for Ecological Shiploader, the contents of which patents areherein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Even with such wellknown bulk material handling equipment and conveying systems, furtherdevelopments are possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide improved bulk material handling systems and methods. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, a bulk material handlingsystem includes a first loading boom assembly. The first loading boomassembly has a horizontal boom frame extending along a boom axis betweenfirst and second boom frame ends and a vertical boom frame supportingthe horizontal boom frame between the first and second boom frame ends.A boom frame rotation mechanism engages the vertical boom frame and isoperable to rotate the vertical and horizontal boom frames about avertically-extending boom rotation axis intersecting the boom axisbetween the first and second boom frame ends. A boom conveyor mechanismis operable to convey bulk material therealong, and extends betweenfirst and second boom conveyor ends. The boom conveyor mechanism isslidably mounted to the horizontal boom frame extending along the boomaxis and intersecting the rotation axis. The first boom conveyor end isoriented toward the first boom frame end and the second boom conveyorend is oriented toward the second boom frame end. A boom conveyordisplacement mechanism engages the boom conveyor mechanism and isoperable to slide the boom conveyor mechanism along the boom axis in afirst boom direction, where the first and second boom conveyor endsmove, respectively, away from and toward the rotation axis, and a secondboom direction opposite thereto. A receiving hopper is mounted to thehorizontal boom frame over the boom conveyor mechanism. The receivinghopper extends along the rotation axis and is configured to receive bulkmaterial and subsequently direct bulk material to the boom conveyormechanism. A discharge spout is arranged at the first end of the boomconveyor and slidable therewith, and configured to receive bulk materialfrom the boom conveyor and subsequently discharge bulk material.

According to an aspect of the present invention the bulk materialhandling system also includes a loading boom supply bridge assembly. Thesupply bridge assembly has an elevated bridge frame extending over thefirst loading boom assembly along a bridge axis intersecting therotation axis of the first loading boom assembly. A first bridgedischarge chute is connected to the elevated bridge frame over thereceiving hopper of the first loading boom assembly and operable todischarge bulk material thereinto. A first bridge conveyor mechanismextends along the elevated bridge frame to the first bridge dischargechute and is operable to convey bulk material from a supply point to thefirst bridge discharge chute.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the bulk materialsystem can include one or more additional loading boom assembliesadjacent to the first loading boom assembly and supplied by one or moreadditional bridge conveyor mechanisms. The additional bridge conveyormechanism(s) can extend across the same loading boom supply bridgeassembly, or separate supply bridge assemblies.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present inventionwill be better appreciated in view of the drawings and followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bulk material handling systemincluding a plurality of loading boom assemblies and a loading boomsupply bridge assembly, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary one of the loading boomassemblies of FIG. 1, including a boom conveyor mechanism fully advancedin a first direction;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the loading boom assembly of FIG. 2, with theboom conveyor mechanism fully withdrawn in a second direction;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a first end of the boomconveyor mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detailed side view of a second end of the boom conveyormechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view an exemplary rail car used in the boomconveyor mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of loading boom assembly of FIG. 2, includinga boom conveyor displacement mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of area 8 of FIG. 2, including theboom conveyor displacement mechanism of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an elevated bridge frame of the loadingboom supply bridge assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bridge ramp frame of the loading boomsupply bridge assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a bulk material handling system 10 includes a plurality ofloading boom assemblies 12 and a loading boom supply bridge assembly 14.Via the loading boom supply bridge assembly 14 bulk materials aretransported from a bulk material supply point 16 to the loading boomassemblies 12. The loading boom assemblies 12 receive the bulk materialsalong respective loading axes 20 and discharge the bulk materials tobulk material destinations 22. As will be explained in greater detailbelow, the loading boom assemblies 12 are operable to vary theirdischarge points relative to their loading axes 20—most preferably bothradially (arrow 24) and angularly (arrow 26).

In the depicted embodiment, the bulk material destinations 22 are ships,such that the bulk material handling system 10 functions as an efficientand flexible ship loading system; however, it will be appreciated thatthe present invention could be applied in other bulk material handlingapplications. Within the context of a ship loading application, the bulkmaterial loading system 10 could advantageously by supported on afloating, movable pier 30 to facilitate relocation to other bulkmaterial supply points.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an exemplary one of the loading boomassemblies 12 is shown, as the loading boom assemblies 12 aresubstantially identical. In the context of the claims appended hereto,“substantially identical” means that the loading boom assemblies eachinclude all the recited elements; they are not necessarily identicalwith respect to elements not expressly recited by the claims, nor withrespect to unspecified characteristics of recited elements, such asdimensions.

The loading boom assembly 12 includes a horizontal boom frame 32, avertical boom frame 34, a boom frame rotation mechanism 36, a boomconveyor mechanism 40, a boom conveyor displacement mechanism 42, areceiving hopper 44, a discharge spout 46, and a counterweight mechanism50. The vertical boom frame 34 supports the horizontal boom frame 32.The boom frame rotation mechanism 36 engages the vertical boom frame 34to rotate it along with the horizontal boom frame, thereby effectingangular displacement of the discharge spout 46 about theloading/rotation axis 20.

The boom conveyor mechanism 40 is slidably mounted to the horizontalboom frame 32, intersecting the rotation axis 20 so as to always bepositioned to receive bulk materials from the receiving hopper 44 andoperable to convey the same to the discharge spout 46. To vary theradial placement of the discharge spout 46 relative to the rotation axis20, the boom conveyor displacement mechanism 42 engages to the boomconveyor mechanism 40 and advances and withdraws the entire conveyormechanism 40, along with the discharge spout 46 along the axis 48 of thehorizontal boom 32. A counterweight mechanism 50 helps keep the loadingboom assembly 10 balanced by advancing and withdrawing from therotational axis 20 in the opposite direction of the boom conveyormechanism 40. In FIG. 2, the boom conveyor mechanism 40 is fullyadvanced in a first direction, and in FIG. 3, fully withdrawn in asecond direction, with the counterweight mechanism 50 fully advanced andwithdrawn in opposition thereto.

The horizontal boom frame 32 is preferably constructed of a lattice offrame elements, made of steel or other metal with suitable strength,weight and corrosion-resistance properties for the environment in whichit is to be employed. The horizontal boom frame 32 extends along theboom axis 48 between first and second boom frame ends 52, 54 and affordsan unobstructed path for the boom conveyor mechanism 40 to slide alongthe boom axis 48 and through which to convey bulk materials.

The vertical boom frame 34 preferably includes first, second and thirdvertical sections 60, 62, 64 extending downwardly from the horizontalboom frame 32. The first and second vertical boom frame sections 60, 62are equidistant from the rotation axis 20 and ride along an annulartrack 66. With bulk materials being conveyed from the rotation axis 20toward the first boom end 52, the first vertical boom frame section 60will ordinarily experience compressive forces and the second verticalboom frame section 62 will ordinarily experience tensile forces. Thus,the first section 60 will be urged into contact with the upper surfaceof the annular track 66 and can be supported for rolling movement on topthereof, whereas the second section 62 will be urged out of contact withthe upper surface of the track 66, and can advantageously engage anunderside thereof. The third vertical section 64 extends along therotation axis 20 and is rotatably mounted to the ground or otherunderlying surface. Depending on the expected system loading, one ormore of the vertical boom frame sections could be omitted, or additionalsections could be used.

The boom frame rotation mechanism 36 engages the vertical boom frame 34in order to impart rotational motion about the loading/rotation axis 20.In one embodiment, the boom frame rotation mechanism 36 includes a bullgear attached to a lower end of the third vertical boom frame section64, which would, itself, by driven by a motor-driven gear. Alternately,a boom frame rotation mechanism 36A includes one or more motor-drivenwheels attached to the first vertical boom frame section 60.

The boom conveyor mechanism 40 extends along the boom axis between firstand second boom conveyor ends 70, 72, and is operable to convey bulkmaterials between the receiving hopper 44 and the discharge spout 46. Avariety of conveyor mechanisms 40 could be employed in connection withembodiments of the present invention, but, referring more particularlyto FIGS. 4 and 5, a most preferred embodiment includes rails 74extending between the first and second conveyor ends 70, 72 on which aplurality of interconnected rail cars 76 ride. The rails 74 are slidablymounted to the horizontal beam frame 32 by a plurality of rollers 80.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the rails 74 and rail cars 76 interact suchthat the rail cars 76 can ride on the rails 74 via wheels 78 bothright-side and upside down. Wide flange I-beams are particularlysuitable for the rails 74, with loop sections at the end to allow thetransition between right-side up and upside down operation, as well asto enable bulk material dumping into the discharge spout 46 at the firstboom conveyor end 70. Each rail car 76 includes a trough section 82 anda flexible flap 84 that will engage the trough section 82 of the car infront of it. Thus, a series of right-side up cars 76 will form asubstantially continuous trough for the conveyance of bulk materials, asseen in FIGS. 4 and 5. For clarity of illustration, only a limitednumber of rail cars 76 are shown, but there are preferably sufficientrail cars 76 to form a continuous loop of rail cars across the top andbottom of the rails 74.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rail cars 76 are driven by a boomconveyor driving mechanism 86. Advantageously, the conveyor drivingmechanism 86 includes at least one drive wheel station, withmotor-driven drive wheels 90. The drive wheels 90 engage side plates 92on each of the cars 76 to impart motion thereto. The conveyor drivingmechanism 86 is preferably mounted directly to the horizontal boom frame32 between the rotation axis 20 and the second boom end 54, but closeenough to the rotation axis 20 that the mechanism 86 will always be ableto engage the continuous loop of rail cars 76. The conveyor drivingmechanism 86 also offers additional counterweight in this location.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the boom conveyor displacement mechanism 42advantageously includes motor-drive pinions 94 that engage racks 96 onthe rails 74 of the boom conveyor mechanism 40. Through operation of thepinions 94, the boom conveyor mechanism 40 is advanced in the firstdirection and withdrawn in the second direction. Referring to FIGS. 2and 3, the advancement of the first boom conveyor end 70 is preferablylimited to the first boom end 52. As the first conveyor end 70 movesaway from the rotation axis 20, the second conveyor end 72 moves towardthe rotation axis 20, and the opposite happens during withdrawal in thesecond direction. Thus, a portion of boom conveyor mechanism 40 isalways retained underneath the receiving hopper 44.

Referring to FIG. 4, the discharge spout 46 includes a shroud 100, aspout end 102 and a dust collector 104, all of which are commonlymounted to the boom conveyor mechanism 40 first end 70 and movetherewith. The shroud 100 surrounds the first conveyor end 70 and helpsredirect the bulk material released from the rail cars 76 to the spoutend 102, and also contains dust released therefrom. Advantageously, theshroud 100 can have a soft flexible lining. The released dust iscollected by the dust collector 104 (e.g., a shaker bag collectionsystem), which draws a suction on the shroud 100.

The spout end 102 further enhances the discharge placement flexibilityof the loading boom assembly 12. More particularly, the spout end 102 isrotatable about discharge axis 106 via a collar 110 and pivotable via ajoint 112 perpendicular to the discharge axis. By variably pivoting androtating the spout end 102, a horizontal bulk material deflectiondistance and direction are varied.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the counterweight mechanism 50includes a counterweight 120 riding on rails 122 located on top of thehorizontal boom frame 32. Preferably, the counterweight mechanism 50 isalso driven by the boom conveyor displacement mechanism 42, such thatadvancement of the boom conveyor mechanism 40 automatically results in acompensating advancement, albeit at a reduced rate accounting to areduced travel distance, of the counterweight 120. In general, thecounterweight mechanism 50 should be dimensioned such that the center ofgravity of the loading boom assembly 12 remains within the circledescribed by the first and second vertical frame sections 60, 62.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the loading boom supply bridge assembly 14includes a elevated bridge frame 130 and a ramp frame 132 which extendgenerally in the direction of a bridge axis 134. The bridge axis 134intersects the loading axis 20 of each of the loading boom assemblies 12(see FIG. 1). A plurality of bridge conveyor mechanisms 136 carried bythe frames 130 and 132 carry bulk material between the supply point 16and a corresponding plurality of discharge chutes 140, one of whichchutes 140 overlies a corresponding receiving hopper 44 of the loadingboom assemblies 12. A split hopper 142 at the supply point 16 can evenlydivide bulk material for supply to each of the bridge conveyormechanisms 136.

Advantageously, the bridge conveyor mechanisms 136 are eachsubstantially similar to the boom conveyor mechanisms 40, with acontinuous loop of interconnected railcars travelling on railsright-side up and upside down, shrouds, and the like. To ensuresynchronized operation, the bridge conveyor mechanisms 136 and boomconveyor mechanisms 40 can be powered by a common variable frequencydrive (VFD). Additionally, bulk materials can be brought to the supplypoint 16 by one or more additional conveyor mechanisms like theabove-described conveyor mechanisms 40, 136. A control house 150 foroverseeing all bulk handling system 10 operations can be arranged on topof the elevated bridge frame 130.

In operation, and with particular reference to a ship loading example,bulk materials are brought to the supply point 16. Ships 22 are dockedon either side of a supply pier 30. The loading boom assemblies 12 arerotated about their respective loading/rotation axes 20, with boomconveyor mechanisms 40 advanced/withdrawn, as necessary, such that oneof them is positioned to begin loading a forward end of one of the ships22, and the other one the aft end of the other ship 22. It will beappreciated that both loading boom assemblies 12 could also be employedsimultaneously on a single ship 22.

Via the split hopper 142 bulk materials are loaded onto the bridgeconveyor mechanisms 136 and conveyed to the discharge chutes 140. Thebulk materials are received from the discharge chutes 140 into thereceiving hoppers 40 and from thence to the boom conveyor mechanisms 40.The bulk materials are transported along the boom conveyor mechanisms 40to the discharge spouts 46 and discharged into the ships 22.

Without having to interrupt the supply of bulk materials the dischargespout 46 is repositioned to alter the placement thereof (although bulkmaterials supply interruptions could be employed, if needed for otherreasons—e.g., transit of the discharge spout 46 over an area where nobulk materials are to be deposited). Repositioning is accomplished withany desired combination of discharge spout 46 spout end 102 movements,translation of the boom conveyor mechanisms 40 and rotation of theloading boom assemblies 12. Once half of each ship 22 is filled, theloading boom assemblies 12 are each rotated in turn to fill the oppositeend of the other ship 22, and the preceding process is repeated untilboth ships 22 are completely loaded.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present inventionallows not only for fast transport of bulk materials between supply anddestination, but through the flexible positioning afforded thereby, alsominimizes or eliminates downtime during the loading process. Thus, ahigher overall capacity throughput could be achieved relative to a lessflexible system, or the same capacity could be achieved with a smallercross-sectional area of carried material being required.

The foregoing examples are provided for illustrative and exemplarypurposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.Rather, those skilled in the art will be appreciate that the variationmodifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, willfall within the scope of the invention herein shown and described, andof the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bulk material handling system comprising: afirst loading boom assembly including: a horizontal boom frame extendingalong a boom axis between first and second boom frame ends; a verticalboom frame supporting the horizontal boom frame between the first andsecond boom frame ends; a boom frame rotation mechanism engaging thevertical boom frame and operable to rotate the vertical and horizontalboom frames about a vertically-extending boom rotation axis intersectingthe boom axis between the first and second boom frame ends; a boomconveyor mechanism extending between first and second boom conveyorends, the boom conveyor being slidably mounted to the horizontal boomframe extending along the boom axis and intersecting the rotation axiswith the first boom conveyor end oriented toward the first boom frameend and the second boom conveyor end oriented toward the second boomframe end, the boom conveyor being operable to convey bulk materialtherealong; a boom conveyor displacement mechanism engaging the boomconveyor mechanism and operable to slide the boom conveyor mechanismalong the boom axis in a first boom direction, where the first andsecond boom conveyor ends move, respectively, away from and toward therotation axis, and a second boom direction opposite thereto; a receivinghopper mounted to the horizontal boom frame over the boom conveyormechanism, the receiving hopper extending along the rotation axis andbeing configured to receive bulk material and subsequently direct bulkmaterial to the boom conveyor mechanism; and a discharge spout arrangedat the first end of the boom conveyor and slidable therewith, thedischarge spout being configured to receive bulk material from the boomconveyor and subsequently discharge bulk material.
 2. The bulk materialhandling system of claim 1, further comprising a loading boom supplybridge assembly including: an elevated bridge frame extending over thefirst loading boom assembly along a bridge axis intersecting therotation axis of the first loading boom assembly; a first bridgedischarge chute connected to the elevated bridge frame over thereceiving hopper of the first loading boom assembly and operable todischarge bulk material thereinto; and a first bridge conveyor mechanismextending along the elevated bridge frame to the first bridge dischargechute and operable to convey bulk material from a supply point to thefirst bridge discharge chute.
 3. The bulk material handling system ofclaim 2, further comprising a second loading boom assembly substantiallyidentical to the first loading boom assembly and located adjacentthereto; wherein the elevated bridge frame also extends over the secondloading boom assembly, the bridge axis also intersects the rotation axisof the second loading boom assembly, and the loading boom supplyassembly bridge further includes: a second bridge discharge chuteconnected to the elevated bridge frame over the receiving hopper of thesecond loading boom assembly and operable to discharge bulk materialthereinto; and a second bridge conveyor mechanism extending along theelevated bridge frame to the second bridge discharge chute and operableto convey bulk material from the loading point to the second bridgedischarge chute.
 4. The bulk material handling system of claim 1,wherein the vertical boom frame comprises first and second vertical boomframe sections extending downwardly from separate points on thehorizontal boom frame equidistant from the rotation axis, and the firstloading boom assembly further includes an annular track coaxial with therotation axis on which the first and second vertical boom frame sectionsride.
 5. The bulk material handling system of claim 1, wherein thevertical boom frame further comprises a third vertical boom framesection extending downwardly from the horizontal boom frame along therotation axis.
 6. The bulk material handling system of claim 1, whereinthe boom frame rotation mechanism includes a bull gear attached to thevertical boom frame coaxial with the rotation axis.
 7. The bulk materialhandling system of claim 1, wherein the boom frame rotation mechanismincludes at least one drive wheel attached to the boom frame.
 8. Thebulk material handling system of claim 1, wherein the boom conveyormechanism includes: rails extending between the first and second boomconveyor ends; and a plurality of connected rail cars riding on therails; and a boom conveyor driving mechanism for driving the pluralityof rail cars.
 9. The bulk material handling system of claim 8, whereinthe rails form a continuous loop between the first and second boomconveyor ends and the plurality of connected rail cars are adapted toride toward the first boom conveyor end right-side up and to ride awayfrom the first boom conveyor end suspended upside down.
 10. The bulkmaterial handling system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of connectedrail cars are substantially continuous around the continuous loop. 11.The bulk material handling system of claim 10, wherein a plurality offlaps extend between the plurality of connected rail cars so as to forman uninterrupted trough for bulk material when riding right side up. 12.The bulk material handling system of claim 8, wherein the boom conveyordriving mechanism includes at least one drive wheel station engagingside plates of the plurality of rail cars.
 13. The bulk materialhandling system of claim 1, wherein the boom conveyor mechanism includesa rack extending along the boom axis and the boom conveyor displacementmechanism includes a pinion engaging the rack for driving the boomconveyor mechanism in the first and second boom directions.
 14. The bulkmaterial handling system of claim 1, wherein, with the boom conveyormechanism driven to a first direction movement limit, the first boomconveyor end is proximate to the first boom frame end, and with the boomconveyor mechanism driven to a second direction movement limit, thesecond boom conveyor end is proximate to the second boom frame end. 15.The bulk material handling system of claim 1, wherein the first loadingboom assembly further includes a counterweight mechanism, thecounterweight mechanism including a counterweight mounted to thehorizontal boom frame and slidable along the boom axis between therotation axis and the second boom frame end, the counterweight mechanismbeing operationally connected to the boom conveyor mechanism such thatmovement of the boom conveyor mechanism in the first direction resultsin movement of the counterweight toward the second boom frame end andmovement of the boom conveyor mechanism in the second direction resultsin movement of the counterweight toward the rotation axis.
 16. The bulkmaterial handling system of claim 1, wherein the discharge spoutincludes a discharge spout end that is pivotable to vary a horizontaldeflection distance of bulk material away from a vertical dischargeaxis.
 17. The bulk material handling system of claim 16, wherein thedischarge spout end is also rotatable about the vertical discharge axisto vary a deflection direction of bulk material.
 18. The bulk materialhandling system of claim 1, wherein the discharge spout includes ashroud.
 19. The bulk material handling system of claim 1, wherein thedischarge spout further includes a dust collector drawing a suction onthe shroud.
 20. The bulk material handling system of claim 1, whereinthe boom frame rotation mechanism, the boom conveyor mechanism and theboom conveyor displacement mechanism are operable simultaneously toalter the position of the discharge spout without interrupting a flow ofbulk materials through the system.
 21. A bulk material handling systemcomprising: a first loading boom assembly including: a horizontal boomframe extending along a boom axis between first and second boom frameends; a boom conveyor mechanism extending between first and second boomconveyor ends, the boom conveyor being slidably mounted to thehorizontal boom frame extending along the boom axis with the first boomconveyor end oriented toward the first boom frame end and the secondboom conveyor end oriented toward the second boom frame end, the boomconveyor mechanism being operable to convey bulk material therealong; areceiving hopper mounted to the horizontal boom frame over the boomconveyor mechanism, the receiving hopper extending along a loading axisand being configured to receive bulk material and subsequently directbulk material to the boom conveyor mechanism; a discharge spout arrangedat the first end of the boom conveyor and slidable therewith, thedischarge spout being configured to receive bulk material from the boomconveyor and subsequently discharge bulk material; and a boom conveyordisplacement mechanism engaging the boom conveyor mechanism and operableto slide the boom conveyor mechanism along the boom axis in a first boomdirection, where the first and second boom conveyor ends move,respectively, away from and toward the loading axis, and a second boomdirection opposite thereto.